Frequently Asked Questions

I strive to be fair to both my clients and myself in order to cultivate a mutually collaborative and respectful therapist-client relationship. For this reason I have compiled the following policies.

Scheduling

Services are scheduled by appointment only. I do not accept walk-ins. I do occasionally accept same-day appointments. However, to accommodate your preferred appointment time, please schedule with as much advance notice as possible. You can schedule in person after your session, by calling or texting 551-404-7994 or by contacting me via this Booking request link, and I will respond at my soonest convenience.

All first-time client appointments must be reserved at the time of scheduling with a credit card charge equal to 50% of the total appointment charge. If you do not have a credit card, you have the option of paying a 50% deposit by debit card, PayPal or Venmo. Until you have completed the brief electronic intake and credit card form, which I will send you after our first contact, your appointment is not booked. Appointment slots are given on a first come, first served basis, so if you do not complete this in a timely manner, it is possible that somebody else may take your appointment slot.

The remaining 50% will be due when you come for your scheduled appointment. I will retain this 50% deposit in the event of a late cancellation or no-show, as defined above. Giving me ample notice that you are unable to make your appointment may allow me to fill your slot with another client who is in need of my services.

Please inform me in the online intake of any health conditions, allergies, special needs or concerns. Your safety is important to me, and some services may not be appropriate for certain conditions.

Illness policy and COVID-19 safety

My top priority is to keep both my clients and myself healthy and well. Consequently, if you currently or have recently had any respiratory, flu or cold symptoms including fever, chills, nasal drainage/congestion, sore throat, cough, muscle aches or shortness of breath, please contact me as soon as possible to reschedule. There will be no fee charged for cancellations due to illness.

Due to updates in local, state and CDC guidelines, masks are now optional, but they are still welcome if it makes you feel more comfortable.

Timeliness

Please arrive to your appointment on time so I can honor your full session time. If you book a 60/90/120-minute appointment, that is 60/90/120 minutes of hands-on time. If your appointment is at e.g. 9 am, please arrive at 9 am. If you arrive early, I may still be in session. I have other clients after you, and I will end your appointment at the scheduled time in order to respect their time.

I give my clients a 15-minute grace period, so if you are running late, please let me know as soon as possible, and it is at my discretion whether I will be able to honor all or part of your appointment time or whether we will have to reschedule your appointment. Regardless of the length of the service actually given, you will still be responsible for payment of the full service you originally scheduled.

Intake and outtake

Please allow an extra 15 minutes for your first appointment with me. For first-time clients, I perform a thorough intake to get to know each new client’s wants and needs, and establish an open and trust-based therapeutic relationship. In my experience, the more comfortable clients feel with me, the more effective the subsequent treatment will ultimately be. During the intake we will discuss your physical and mental health, your treatment goals, as well as music, pressure and modality preferences to design a customized holistic treatment to suit your needs that day. At each new appointment I will ask you how the last treatment was, so we can ascertain whether we want to do anything differently.

After your session, I will be happy to schedule your next treatment to ensure your desired appointment slot. As a Certified Yoga Teacher, I’m also able to give you “homework” in the form of stretches or other recommendations to improve things like ergonomics and body mechanics between our appointments. Post-massage I recommend clients take an Epsom salt bath (the magnesium can help to relax your muscles and reduce any possible soreness), practice gentle stretching and ensure plenty of hydration. Subject to your consent, I will follow up with you in a few days to see whether you have any questions and also give you the opportunity to reschedule if you haven’t already done so.

Payment

Full payment is due at time of service. I accept cash, credit cards, Venmo, PayPal, Zelle and Cash App.

Gift cards

Gift cards may be purchased for any value amount and are redeemable for services only, no cash value.

Gratuities

Gratuities are not included in the prices of my services and are always appreciated. All gratuities are at the client’s discretion, but are customarily 20+% of the full price of the service.

Massage frequency

Treatment frequency is based on the individual client’s lifestyle, profession, health, needs and budget. However, I make the following recommendations.

Once a week to several times a week: ideal for clients with an acute issue (for instance an injury or a sudden-onset issue). It takes time to re-educate the body and muscles, so it is more beneficial to get massages closer together in order to maintain our progress, and so we don’t have to start from square 1. Particularly stressful or physical professions also benefit from more regular massage.

After a number of sessions close together, we are usually able to taper off to less frequent sessions as needed and desired, such as once every two weeks or (my minimum recommendation for maintenance) once a month. We will discuss this during the intake and outtake to mutually determine an appointment frequency that works for you.

I encourage my clients to make massage a regular part of their holistic healthcare routine to maintain their energy, mental health and pain-free range of motion and flexibility. Sadly, it’s not realistic to come once a year and expect your LMT to solve all your problems, especially when you consider how long it has taken for your body to get that way.

Massage duration

60 minutes: this is my minimum session time, and I only recommend it for clients who get regular massage or require a localized treatment. Clients who get less regular massage often tend to be tighter, and so we often require more time to loosen up your muscles and fascia (connective tissue) in a way that we are working with your body rather than fighting against it. On intake I will ask clients about their priorities for that session, and this will be my focus. Sometimes, this may mean that in order to effectively treat the problem area(s), I am not able to perform a full-body treatment.

90 minutes: this is ideal if you not only want a full-body session, but also have several problem areas you would like me to work on.

120 minutes: this is ideal for us to perform a full-body session, work on multiple problem areas, and perform complimentary add-ons such as hot stones/hot bamboo, cupping and stretching.

Communicate your preferences

I want to empower all of my clients with the knowledge that you are in charge of your massage experience. You know your body best and I encourage you to speak up if something doesn’t feel right or if you want me to change a technique. My job is to give you the healing tools for your body to heal itself. All aspects of your massage session can be modified to your preference: pressure (too light or too deep), lighting in the room, style of music, temperature, and whether or not you choose to have a conversation or enjoy the treatment in silence.

Clothing and draping, professional services only

In accordance with my Georgia Massage Therapy License, all massages will be performed fully draped. I perform professional services only, and if you seek to solicit anything else, I reserve the right to immediately terminate our session, and payment will be due in full.

For fully clothed services such as Thai or Reiki, please dress in comfortable, loose fitting and lightweight clothes, such as yoga pants or leggings. For services where I ask you to undress to your comfort level, you are welcome to leave your underwear on or disrobe. If I am working with low back or hip issues, it can be helpful to work skin on skin, but your comfort is always my top priority.

Parking

There is ample free parking outside my office.

Insurance billing and HSA/FSA cards, collaborating with other healthcare providers

I do not offer direct insurance billing, but can provide a receipt for your session that you may be able to submit to your insurance company for reimbursement. A prescription from your doctor or chiropractor is typically required. You must contact your health insurance provider to verify that massage therapy is a covered plan benefit and for instruction on how to submit your claim. You are responsible for payment in full at the time of service.

However, in some cases, my credit card processor is able to process HSA/FSA cards, although this seems to depend on the individual card and insurance company’s policies.

Subject to your consent, I am also willing to collaborate with other healthcare providers to design a treatment regime to suit your goals. I have in the past worked alongside personal trainers, chiropractors, physical therapists and acupuncturists.

Reviews

I am grateful to my loyal clients, and much of my business is word-of-mouth. So, if you love my work, please share your review on: Google Maps, Yelp, Facebook or all of these platforms